9100 game performance horrible

Hi, I have also just recieved my 9100 and I also get very performance in Call of Duty. Unlike you I have the MR9800 256 mb card, 1 Gb of ram, but have a 5400 rpm drive (40gb). COD basically stutters / pauses all the time regardless of the settings making the game unplayable, is this the same as you get?

I have tried reloading Win xp Home, all the drivers including Dell, ATI and Omega. I have even tried different sound drivers - all to no avail. What is really strange is Doom3, UT2004, Deus Ex:Invisible war all run superbly. Now we all know Doom3 is very hungry so I can't understand how that runs fine, but no matter what I try I cannot get COD to run correctly in either single or Multiplayer modes. I am really annoyed because COD is the main game I play as I am in a COD clan. I get very good FPS in COD, so I do not think it is graphics related at all, I personally think it could be a sound issue, but COD will not run with the sound disabled.

I have logged a support call with Dell in the UK and am waiting another response. All they could offer me initally was a link to the Dell drivers, which didn't work. I was kind of wondering if it could be hard drive related but I have posted question in www.notebookforums.com (9100 / XPS) section and the concensous is it shouldn't make any difference because once the map or level is loaded the hard disk speed is not relevant.

I earn my living as a computer engineer / network tech and this one has got me beat. I did plan to upgrade my drive in the future to a 7200 and use the 5200 as a second drive. But I am not convinced at all this is the problem and if Dell cannot offer a suitable solution I want my money back and will get something I can play COD on.

Please let me know if you are expereincing the same problem and I will let you know how I get on.

Message Edited by dodgeuk1 on 09-18-2004 10:11 AM

hi dodge,

I have the exact same problem. COD happened to be the first game I installed and so I was very upset initially, thinking I was duped with a shotty laptop. However that was not the case since I have since loaded other games and they play shockingly great. I would love to get to the bottom of this and find out what it could be that is holding it back. Keep me posted on your findings and I shall do the same. Good luck!

Will do. Actually makes me feel better to hear you have the same problem ! Have you been in touch with Dell at all yet?

Ok well this is very strange. I just loaded the Omega drivers, fired up COD and it plays amazingly well!!! Not one skip and it looks gorgeous on the WUXGA screen. I have the 9700 and it looks great, I can only imagine how it would look on the MR9800!!! I hope you get to the bottom of your issue dodge and please post here when you find the solution.

 

Just a stupid question but before loading the omega drivers, did you uninstall the ATI control panel? I saw a notice on the install screen for the Omegas that if you did not do that, it would cause problems. Just throwing that out there. =)

Cool - good luck I hope it works !

Let me know please.

hmm maybe I will try the omega drivers then. Also, you have the 7200 rpm drive. One of those might be the culprit. Thanks for the info!

 

 

Just ordered the Hitachi 7200 rpm drive from newegg along with a Gig of Corsair XMS DDR ram :) We shall see what happens from here. I just installed the Omega drivers and will see what happens now.

Yeh, the drive is the common dominator here I have to say, but what I can't understand though is why it would only effect COD? Also I would have thought there would be many more issues around generally with COD as the minimum specs are actually quite low being based on an enhanced Quake 3 engine.

I am currently using the Omega drivers and as I say every other game is superb . The 9800 rocks so If you can get it as an upgrade then I would go for it, I know they are offering it in the US and UK, so it must be available in Canada to I would imagine. 

Are you going to order a 7200 drive then SprayingMango ? If Dell can confirm that is definatley the prob then I will, but I want to be sure first. 

Message Edited by dodgeuk1 on 09-18-2004 05:41 PM

hi dodge...

ive also got an inspiron 9100...but i have the mr 9700...COD works fine on mine..im setting out to buy united offensive next....

heres my config..

2.8 gig prescott, 1 gig ddr 400, 60 gig 7200rpm

i use the omega drivers and i dont have any problems...i switched to omega because i cudnt play doom 3 with the dell drivers....

BTW..is dell offering an upgrade to the mr 9800 for the 9100...im in canada

Thanks for the kind words dodge. Sorry your problem still persists   I guess I just spent $400 for nothing, aww well i'll still install the 7200 rpm drive anyway lol!

 

 

Fantastic, i'm pleased your sorted Spray. Doesn't help me though - guess it ain't the drive then !!!

Yeh thanks for the tip, but I saw that to and made sure the control panel was uninstalled first.

I'll keep battling on and will post if I get a solution.

Happy gaming !

Well, I'm using the XPS with the 9700 card and I can't run numerous games, such as the Sims 2 - I get into the game for a few minutes then I get a screen full of video trash (like a psycho kaleidoscope). Ugh